Dexter Lawrence Starts New Journey with Bengals
Dexter Lawrence is entering a new phase in his NFL career, and following his trade from the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Bengals, he admits to feeling “more passion than ever before.”
The Giants honored Lawrence’s trade request on Saturday, sending the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle to Cincinnati in a significant deal that includes the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This trade certainly shakes things up for the upcoming draft, which kicks off Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
Lawrence, who was drafted 17th overall in 2019, quickly became a fan favorite in New York and is often regarded as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the league.
It’s interesting to note that, despite having two years left on his contract and a new head coach, John Harbaugh, at the helm, Lawrence still sought a change. It seems, historically, players have utilized trades as a way to negotiate better contracts, but that wasn’t the primary motivator for him this time.
For Lawrence, the move to Cincinnati represents a fresh start, and he feels a renewed motivation as he embarks on this new chapter.
“They wanted me to be here and appreciate the work I’ve put in over the past seven seasons,” Lawrence mentioned in a statement shared via the Bengals’ official YouTube channel. “I’m grateful for that, and I’m going to do everything I can to show that their faith in me wasn’t misplaced. I’m excited because there’s a fire inside me that I’ve never had before. I’m thrilled to be a Bengal.”
On the financial side, the Bengals have extended him a one-year, $28 million contract that will keep him with the team through the 2028 season, adding up to a total of three years and $70 million. Prior to this, he had $42 million left on his Giants deal.
Lawrence remarked that the offseason discussions in New York were pretty drawn out, but he felt a wave of relief and excitement once the teams reached an agreement.
“God got me through it. Now I’m ready to let my light shine and go win some games,” he stated.
Considering the sizable investment the Bengals made to acquire him, Lawrence acknowledges the pressure is on to perform in his new role. Having proven to be tough for opposing offensive lines, he notched up 30.5 sacks, 15 pass breakups, and 341 total tackles—40 of which were for loss—in 109 games with the Giants.
Last season was particularly notable as it marked the first time he played all 17 games since the NFL added extra regular-season contests in 2021.
“I know some will say there’s pressure, but I embrace it,” Lawrence commented. “I’m going to handle it. I know who I am, and I’ll stay true to that. I’m committed to taking this defense to the next level.”
As Lawrence looks forward to this fresh opportunity, the Giants, with two top-10 picks in the upcoming draft (including the fifth pick), are certainly in a position to make significant moves with new rookie talent.
Interestingly, the Giants have only made the playoffs twice since the 2016 season.
